IN THE SADDLE JENNY SHEPPARD 23/10/2006
SHEPPARTON SPRING SHOWJUMPING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Northern Victorian Showjumping Club conducted their annual Spring Showjumping Championships on 14th and 15th October at their well equipped Hunter Reserve grounds in Shepparton. Des Gleeson of Gerogery continued his successful spring season by taking out first and second placing in Sunday’s 1.40m Grand Prix riding Mingara Solitaire and Mingara Gamble. Gary Baxter of Shepparton designed the courses on the grass arena for the championship classes adding the inground water jump to all the courses. Third in the Grand prix was up and coming junior rider Lachlan Brennan of Launching Place riding Humphrey Bogart and fourth was Red Hill Veterinarian Adam Johnston riding the stallion Woodleigh Don Juan.
This popular two day event received 575 entries for the extensive two arena program, the courses on the sand arena were designed by Ken Felmingham of Invergordon. Riders from all over Victoria traveling to Shepparton to give their horses an outing on the main arena prior to the Shepparton World Cup competition on 3rd December. The height classes saw wins to local Maddie Ray riding Biscuit, Graham McVilly of Whittlesea riding Felix, Hannah Ramage of Lurg riding Bally Crest, Camilla Re Crispiony of Benalla riding Harry, Mike McKay of Byland riding Bel McPeppy Buck and Alison Morgan of Tocumwal riding Ronnie.
Hannah Ramage also won Saturday’s D Grade class riding Tattenham, Paul Brent of Healesville won the 115m class riding Northern Favus and Alex Harvey of Wandin North won the Junior Championship riding JH Titania. Melissa Froesch of Broadford won the 1.35m Handicap class riding Dom Perigon II and then won the D grade championship riding Caterpillar.
Atlanta Olympian Russell Johnston of Whittlesea won the C and D grade class riding Cruising Down Under and Trevor March of Tocumwal won the B and C grade championship riding Mitre 10 Missy.
JUMPING AT KYABRAM
The annual Kyabram Show’s jumping program was held on Saturday (21st October), Ken Felmingham of Invergordon designed encouraging courses for the large numbers competing. Jazz Turco of Tatura won the under 14 years junior championship riding Dynamic Tom, Ingrid Williamson of Malvern won the 70cm class riding Saltbush and the C and D grade riding HR Black Magic while Stuart Abrahams of Tatura won the 80cm class riding Bruce. Local rider Bianca Rawnsley won the junior under 18 years riding Black O Jack, NSW rider Kay Hare won the D grade riding Melon Jelly and Scott Wessel of Clonbinane won the Open Championship riding GE Victory.
Showjumping at the Agricultural Shows heads to Numurkah and Cobram this week.
JUMPING WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
The ninth round of the Australian Jumping World Cup qualifiers was held at Brigadoon in West Australia on Saturday (21st October), local Linda Dobson jumped the only double clear round to win her first World Cup qualifier riding Argyle Stables Indigo. Linda’s husband David was the runner up riding the experienced Noblewood Park Blatini, the pair completing the two rounds with one rail down on 4 penalties and third going to Queensland rider Adam Mellers riding Barrabadeen Tycoon on 8 penalties over the two rounds.
Queenslander Paula Hamood leads the Australian leader board following the ninth qualifier from Paul Athanasoff of Dungog and Adam Mellers. Victoria’s Gavin Chester is in fourth position from just three competitions, there are 15 qualifying events to be held in Australia, the leader will go to the 2007 World Final in Las Vegas next April.
World Cup showjumping now moves to Victoria for the tenth round to be held as part of the Dressage and Jumping with the Stars spectacular at Werribee park on 11th November.
GRIFFITHS COMPETES IN FRANCE
Sam Grifiths of Pearcedale competed at Le Lion d’Angers in France on the weekend to place fourth in the 2006 International two star Young Horse Eventing championships for 7 year old horses. Riding Happy Days, a real star of the future, Griffiths was one of only three riders to finish on his dressage score. He also jumped one of only five clear showjumping rounds to finish fourth in this prestigious event.
Griffiths is based in England preparing for Australian Team selection at the Beijing Olympics.
The event was won by French rider Aurellen Khan from Germany’s Kai Ruder and Great Britain’s Mary King.
SHOWJUMPING RIDERS IN EUROPE
James Paterson-Robinson of Geelong and Edwina Alexander of Glenhaven competed at the Helsinki International Show in Finland on the weekend. Riding Splendid Vd Heffinck James placed 15th in Friday’s 1.45m class, 16th in the 1.40m class and 37th in the Grand Prix. Riding Valkenjager Paterson-Robinson placed 6th in the 1.40m Table C class.
Alexander was 27th in the Grand Prix riding Isovlas Socrates and 31st in the 1.40m Two Phase class.
Top Swiss rider Beat Mandli won the Hensinki World Cup Qualifier riding Ideo Du Thot.
WORLD CHAMPION TO VIST VICTORIA
Victoria’s 2006 Dressage and Showjumping with the Stars spectacular has this year thanks to the support of jumpingaround.com has secured the services of former Jumping World Champion Franke Sloothaak of Germany to judge the Jumping Stars of the Future, run a Masterclass and a three day coaching clinic where he will coach some of Australia’s top up and coming jumping riders.
Sloothaak has won three Olympic medals and the 1994 Individual World Jumping Championship, he will be in Victoria to conduct the rider clinics from 7th November.
Anyone interested in taking part in the clinic or tickets to the Master Class should call the Victorian Equestrian Federation on 03 9974 0511.
To top off a fabulous week at Werribee Park Equestrian Centre, Franke will ride the finalists in the Young Showjumping Horse Championships.
EUROA SHOW
The 2006 Euroa Show will conduct Showjumping with height classes commencing at 75cm up to 1.15m with the equipment and courses being provided by the Melbourne Show Jumping Club. For further information please call 03 5795 3398.